An hour later, I’m pulling up to the house and park in the driveway where I found the car earlier. I try to hide the lingerie bag because the logo is visible and I don’t want Adam to see it or even Alex yet for that matter.
“What do you have there, baby?” I hear him behind me, how did he sneak up on me like that? I quickly turn around.
“Oh my god, you scared me!” I forgot that I was holding the lingerie back and quickly put my hand with the bag down hoping that he didn’t notice the logo.
Too late though, he looks at it and looks at me with a heated expression. “Did you buy me a present?” His utters.
My face is flush of embarrassment, I turn my head but nod. “It’s for tomorrow” I whisper.
He whispers in my ear, “I’m going to use my teeth to rip the fabric off your body.” He kisses my cheek and walks away acting as if he didn’t just say the hottest thing right now. I can practically feel my ovaries about to burst with that comment. I jog up the stairs with the bag.
As I walk into my room, I look at the far back wall and remember the writing that was on it. It looks like it’s been washed off so it could have been lipstick or washable marker. I’m trying not to think of the violation I feel having that psycho go through my things. I wasn’t even sure if she did take something. I haven’t noticed anything missing yet.
I head downstairs and look for Adam in the game room, Alex and he are playing some game called War Craft something. I’m not sure, I just sit on the arm of the sofa and watch them both laugh and yell at the T.V. screen.
Alex had told me earlier that Adam loves his new school, he’s made a few friends already and he says that he was invited to a birthday party next week for the son of a Hollywood actor.
“I love this game!” Adam yells. I laugh along with Alex. “Both of you can’t spend the rest of the day playing this game. It’s such a nice evening, why don’t we go for a walk or a drive or something.”
Alex looks at me and smiles, “That actually sounds amazing, babe. C’mon Adam, we can finish later. I want to show you guys around the neighborhood.” They put their controllers down and we head downstairs to grab our coats and head out the front door.
We are driving around the neighborhood in Alex’s Mercedes, I don’t know how many cars he has, but it seems that he has a car for everyday of the week. The interior is sleek and stunning with all the gadgets that someone can have. I’m sitting in the passenger seat afraid to touch something that might make the car stop or something.
Alex showed us a few of the actors’ homes that was around the area. I couldn’t believe the names he mentioned that were his neighbors. Adam was in the back seat with his head against the window just staring at all the things that Alex would point out.
During the drive we had gotten ice cream and were eating it in the car. I was surprised that Alex didn’t mind because Adam usually made a mess when he ate. I loved the way Alex looked when we were out. He seemed untroubled and relaxed as talked about anything and everything.
We pull onto the driveway and I instantly feel my stomach drop. I see an unfamiliar red convertible. I look at Alex and see the worried look on his face. He is walking ahead of us to the front door. Alex walks in the house and I walk slowly behind. I want Alex to deal with whatever it is alone so I don’t have to confront the bitch.
I don’t say anything as we walk into the house. When Adam and I enter the front door and we hear yelling coming from the kitchen, “Adam, sweetheart. What don’t you go upstairs and play your Xbox? I will come and get you after.” He nods and I watch him as he runs upstairs without a backward glance.
I walk into the kitchen when I see Libby and Alex having a screaming match. Libby’s arms are flying everywhere as she speaks. She tries touching his arm but he backs away and continues to argue with her.
“What’s going on?” I ask them both. They turn in my direction, Libby has a scowl on her face as she looks at me.
“I’m just asking politely asking Libby here to leave.” Alex bites out. Trying to mask his anger but failing terribly.
“This is nothing of your concern, so why don’t you run along.” Libby tells me.
“Libby, why don’t you leave? You aren’t wanted here. You may have had your fun with him, but those days are over. Take your trashy self out of here before I grab you by your extensions and throw you out of here.” I try to look confident but inside I’m terrified at what she’s capable of doing.
Libby’s face is in shock, I’m pretty sure no one has talked to her that way. She looks at Alex, “You’re going to let this gold digger speak to me this way?”
Alex looks at me and smiles. He then turns to her, his face stoic “I didn’t hear her say anything wrong.” He turns his focus to her, “I told you to leave. If we have any further issues with you, I will have to terminate any business dealings I have with your father.”
She’s livid, good. The bitch always got on my nerves. She just stares at the two of us, processing the turn of events. Frustrated, she grabs her purse from the top of the island and turns on her heels out of the kitchen. We don’t say anything until we hear the front door open and then close. I let out a breath that I was holding.
Alex glances in my direction but doesn’t look directly at me. “Listen, I’m sorry you had to see that.”
“It’s not your fault, Alex. She was always this crazy and obsessed with you, I remember how it was in high school. She always wanted you, I just never thought that she would pursue you after all these years.”
Alex sits on a bar stool and rubs his face in frustration, “I know but it is my fault. I shouldn’t have started sleeping with her again. It might have given her the wrong impression that I was interested in something more with her.”
I’m not sure what I could do to make him feel better so I just rub his back in comfort.
“Shit, I almost forgot. The nanny agency called to confirm, they asked if you wanted to arrange an interview beforehand.”
I think about it, he is already stressed out. I’m sure whoever they said is more than qualified and it will only be for a few hours. They can call if they need anything. I’m beat and I don’t want to interview someone right now.
“No, that’s okay. I’m sure whomever you choose will be fine.” I give him a small smile then leave and head upstairs to check on Adam. What was a wonderful day, ended with the bitch souring everyone’s moods.
Two Years Earlier…
Geri
When my daughter Victoria got pregnant by the Santos boy a few years back, I worried that my daughter wouldn’t be able to continue her education and reach her full potential. My husband Joe and I wanted to do everything we could to give our daughter and grandchild a good life.
Victoria was always a good kid, but I would never had imagined that I would find her on the bathroom floor throwing up and crying holding a positive pregnancy test. I wanted her not to be afraid of telling her father and I anything.
Truth be told, I did want to ring that Santos kids’ neck because my daughter was left my daughter to deal with this mess. His father and him left town without a word, I knew Bruce was dealing with some issues but we did reach out to help and offered them both support.
May was my best friend, we loved their family and we would have done anything to help them. But they never asked us for help or even let us know what was going on. Alex was always a good boy, he protected my daughter since they were in grade school and I will forever be grateful for his presence in my daughter’s life. However, Joe and I were the ones who had to step up in place of Alex because I know my daughter, even though she is strong, she couldn’t do it all by herself. I still wanted her to go to school and get an education so she can give her child a good life.
When we found out that it was a boy, I had called my husband on the drive home. He always wanted a son and a grandson was just as special. Our Victoria was a miracle baby and the only child. I was told I wouldn’t be able to conceive but one day I found out I was preg
nant. I was overjoyed that I would be able to carry a child. Nine months later, our precious Victoria Ann was born weighing six pounds and eight ounces.
Ever since retiring, Joe likes to play golf with his friends a couple of times a week. He is a retired mail courier and has been a courier for twenty-three years before retiring after the doctor recommend he do so because of his arthritis.
I’m sitting on the living room chair, reading one of my books on my e-reader. I do get embarrassed purchasing the paperback books from the book store because in Bradshire, everyone knows everyone and it would be a huge scandal here for someone as myself to purchase one of those books. Even though I don’t find anything wrong about reading these stories.
The house phone rings, usually the only people that call in the early afternoon are telemarketers. I pick it up not recognizing the number displayed, “Hello?”
“Hello, Mrs. Jones?”
“Uhh, yes. Who’s this?”
“Mrs. Jones, it’s Alexander Santos. Bruce and May’s son.”
I’m surprised, I was not expecting a call from him after all these years. I don’t say anything at first, my mouth becomes dry and I’m finding it difficult to speak. Why is he calling?
I finally say “Hi, what can I do for you Alex?”
“I was wondering if Tori was able to speak with me. I don’t know how to reach her.”
There’s no way he is speaking to Tori, this boy made her suffer enough already. “I’m sorry but that’s quite impossible.”
“Why is that, Mrs. Jones?”
“Because she doesn’t want or need to speak with you. She doesn’t want anything to do with you. They are fine on their own.” Damn, I had said they. I hope he didn’t catch that.
“What do you mean ‘they’?”
“I meant she, Alex. Listen, I know that you have a respectable career and have a fantastic life now and Joe and I are happy for you. But I don’t want to hash out the past and open old wounds where Victoria is concerned. Do you understand what I’m saying? It’s nothing against you but so much has happened and the both of you are different people leading different lives. It’s the best thing for everyone involved that you let the past stay in the past.”
The line is quiet and I think that he had hung up until he finally says, “Mrs. Jones, with all due respect, you don’t know have of the stuff that was going on in my family. You didn’t know that my father was buried in the bottle and prescription meds. He was all I had, I couldn’t lose him like I had just lost my mother. My intention wasn’t to hurt Tori or you and your husband. My intention was to try to piece together what was left of my family.”
I don’t know what to say, I feel terrible but it still wouldn’t be good for Victoria to communicate with the boy. It isn’t just her anymore, she has Adam to think about. “She has moved on, you should as well. Take care of yourself Alex. We are all proud of you in Bradshire.”
I hang up, I know that it sounds terrible what I said to him but it’s the best thing in the end.
I’m staring at the phone receiver when Joe walks in. He sees the upset look on my face “What’s wrong?”
He kisses my forehead as he sits on the sofa opposite of me.
“That was Alexander Santos.”
He just stares at me, he knows what I’m thinking and how I feel about him “What did he want?”
“A way to reach Victoria. I think he doesn’t know she lives here.”
“Does he know about Adam?”
“Of course, he doesn’t know. With all the money he has, if he did know, we would be swimming in paperwork and lawsuits for paternity.”
Joe studies my face, I know what he’s thinking and what he’s going to say. “He’s a businessman now Geri, it might be time to have a talk with Tori and tell her that he’s been trying to communicate with her.”
I shake my head, “I know who he is now and I don’t care. He’s also photographed with different women and is known as a playboy. He’s not fit to raise a child, my grandchild. I’m not having my daughter get heartbroken again over him. End of discussion.”
“I think you should tell her that he called.”
“I don’t.”
We just stare at each other, he knows that I’m stubborn and I’m not going to change my mind. He stands and walks out of the room mumbling something about them finding out. Alex probably has kids all over the country, he won’t care about my grandson or my daughter.”
CHAPTER NINE
Present Day…
I’m in the huge walk in closet staring at the dress I got for the Gala. How the hell am I supposed to wear this? I’m second guessing myself, I’m a bundle of nerves and a complete mess. I want Alex’s associates to like me and I want to fit in their world so Alex will be proud of me.
I should have gotten the peach disaster, at least that covered most of my body. I’m wearing the black bra and pantie set that I had bought at the lingerie shop. I decided to wear the bra with the dress. The saleswoman at the lingerie store said that the kind of bra that I had chosen would blend in with the dress that I had explained to her. The set came with stockings that had taken me almost half an hour to snap the straps on.
My cell rings thankfully, I was getting anxiety just looking at the dress. I look at the I.D. “Hey mom.”
“Hi sweetheart, how are you?”
“I’m good, I’m just getting ready for the Gala.”
“I’m sorry I couldn’t babysit tonight, your father and I have a dinner with the Watsons and they have been planning this for a long time.”
I sit on the edge of the bed, “It’s okay, really mom. I feel terrible for always asking to babysit. I just don’t trust a lot of people with my son. Alex has hired from a reputable service so she will be here instead.”
“I’m sure whoever he chooses will be good. He has connections everywhere and I’m sure no one will want to displease him.”
I smile, she has no idea have everyone seems to bend over backwards for him, including myself.
“Listen, the reason I am calling is because I have a confession to make. Your father has been hounding me to come clean to you and I think you should hear it from me then find out from someone else.”
“Mom, what is it? You’re scaring me.”
“I know you will get angry at me but I have to get it off my chest. You now how you have always thought that once Alex left that he hasn’t tried to communicate with you at all?”
“Yes.” Is all I manage to say; my gut tells me that I’m not going to like what she’s going to say.
“Alex has reached out numerous times, I turned him away each time though. Before you lash out at me, I want to explain myself.”
“Go on.”
“I watched you cry yourself months after he left. You were pregnant and you felt like you were alone even though you had us. I won’t forget what he had done to make you feel that way. He called a year after Adam was born, you were exhausted because you were starting your second term and Adam had colic. I was angry and took it out on him.”
“You still should have told me mom.”
“I know. I also saw a newspaper article that he had become a big shot CEO and he was doing well for himself. I was happy for him, he was always a sweet kid but I felt that I needed to protect you and my grandchild. He called after another year and I told him the same thing. I saw pictures of him with different woman. I wasn’t going to fault him for moving on. But I found I picture taken at some fancy Hollywood party with the Libby girl.”
I raise my eyebrows, “You did.” I swallow audibly.
“Yes and I went crazy. I recognized that girl instantly. Here was my daughter working hard to get her degree and raising a child as a single parent and Alex was busy living it up with the rich and famous. So next time he called, I let him have it. I did not want him calling anymore and I told him as much. I should have known that he would never have stopped trying though.”
“I don’t believe it, I cried so much mom. You know how much I
cried. I thought he didn’t care about me.”
“I know, sweetheart. I’m very sorry, I was just trying to protect you and my grandson.”
“Well I do forgive you. I know you and daddy tried your best. I just can’t help but think how things would have been different if I knew where he was all this time. It’s like I was meant to apply at that company.”
I can hear my mom crying and it breaks my heart.
“We did try our best and we are proud of the woman you became. You overcame obstacles that not many women could overcome.”
I have tears streaming down my face. I sob quietly to myself, all this time and I didn’t know anything. Things would have been so different if Alex was a part of Adam’s life from the start.
“Mom, I have to go and get ready. We can talk about this later, I love you.”
“I love you too baby girl.” I hang up. I try to dry my eyes before Alex sees me crying.
I stare at my cell phone as Alex walks in, he is wearing a white undershirt and his Calvin Klein boxers. I love how confident he is in his own skin. I know that he takes great care of himself, in the mornings I know he goes to the gym in the city for a few hours before work. He asked if I wanted to start going too but I said that maybe I would try something like yoga where I wouldn’t have to go to a gym. I get embarrassed working out with an audience.
“Baby, what’s wrong?” He asks. He sits beside me on the bed and rubs my back in comfort.
“My mom called. She was just telling me about you trying to get in touch with me all those years.”
He doesn’t say anything, he just nods.
“I was so angry at you. I thought you didn’t want anything to do with me anymore. How come you didn’t say anything now though?”
“I didn’t want you being angry at your parents. They were doing what they thought was right at the time. I backed off after a few failed attempts at calling you. I saw you once in person and it my heart broke that I couldn’t run up to you and wrap you in a hug. I wanted to hold you and kiss you again but I had to restrain myself. You were at a BBQ at Noah Milton’s house. I knew that your mom would be upset if I showed up so I stayed away. The last few years I stopped calling and coming by your parents’ place. I wanted you to live your life and if that didn’t include me then so be it.”
My Best Friend Page 9